Arlington Heights stadium or not, officers say Chicago Bears headquarters will keep in Lake Forest ‘for a few years to come back’ – The Mercury Information

It has but to be settled whether or not a brand new stadium might be in-built Arlington Heights as the brand new dwelling for the Chicago Bears, however no matter occurs the group will proceed its practically 50-year presence in Lake Forest, based on Bears and metropolis officers.

Whereas some NFL groups have their company headquarters and apply fields in the identical complicated as their stadiums, Bears spokesman Scott Hagel merely mentioned “sure” when requested if the group plans to keep up these services at Lake Forest’s Halas Corridor it doesn’t matter what occurs with the group’s pursuit of the previous Arlington Worldwide Racecourse property.

Hagel’s declaration was made after Lake Forest Metropolis Supervisor Jason Wicha spoke about the way forward for the Bears on the finish of a Jan. 26 discussion board hosted by the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce.

Wicha sensed the group would stay on the 38-acre Halas Corridor complicated, pointing to the group’s said choice to have a procuring, retail and leisure district on the 326-acre Arlington Park web site along with the stadium.

He additionally famous the group’s monetary dedication to the present Halas Corridor, as the power has been expanded twice within the final 10 years.

“Now we have no considerations concerning the Bears leaving,” Wicha mentioned. “We’re very proud to name the Chicago Bears certainly one of our companions in the neighborhood, and we’re proud for them to name Lake Forest dwelling. We anticipate that to proceed for a few years to come back.”

Marc Ganis, the president of Sportscorp Ltd., a number one sports activities enterprise consulting agency that has labored with many NFL groups on stadium initiatives, was not shocked the Bears intend to stay in Lake Forest even when a brand new stadium is in-built Arlington Heights.

“The Arlington Park land could be very useful, and the Bears have already recognized various improvement makes use of for the land to assist offset prices for constructing and working the stadium,” Ganis mentioned. “A correct coaching facility with places of work, parking, 2.5 to three.5 fields, (and) a constructing with a dome or a coated constructing for inclement (climate) practices takes 8, 10 or 12 acres of land out of fee, and the Bears are planning to make use of that (Arlington Park) land for different improvement.

“It makes good sense for the Bears to depart their places of work and coaching services in Lake Forest, which isn’t very far-off from the stadium web site in Arlington Heights.”

Arlington Heights is about 20 miles from Lake Forest.

The Bears have been a presence in Lake Forest for nearly 5 a long time. In 1975, the rookie 12 months of legendary operating again Walter Payton, the group began working towards on the metropolis’s Ferry Corridor. In 1979, they moved into the unique Halas Corridor at Lake Forest Faculty, which additionally served as the company headquarters.

In 1997, the present Halas Corridor opened within the Conway Park workplace complicated close to the Tri-State Tollway. Since 2020, the Bears have additionally held their coaching camp at Halas Corridor.

The Bears introduced in September 2021 that they had signed a purchase order settlement for the Arlington Park web site. Workforce officers have mentioned publicly they anticipate to shut on the acquisition within the first quarter of 2023, however they aren’t guaranteeing it will likely be developed.

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